Proof You Can Eat What You Want And Still Get Killer Abs

Want to take your workouts to the next level? Rather than looking at all the different workout techniques you can do, why not consider the food you’re eating beforehand?

Keep in mind your performance will be strictly limited by how much energy you have to do your workouts with, so feeding your body right is a must. Not sure which foods are best? Take a look at the following pre-workout fuel options and match them to your chosen session ahead.

Bananas And Nut Butter

A quick snack of a banana will provide some fast-acting carbs that hit your muscles for the cardio to come. The nut butter will help ensure you don’t crash mid-way through the workout and provide just enough protein to get you through the session.

Yogurt Parfait

Yogurt layered with berries and a few nuts provides a high-protein, lower carb treat before an easygoing workout session. Additionally, the tryptophan in the yogurt will help relax both the muscles and the mind, making it perfect for before a yoga or stretching workout.

Oatmeal With Protein

Getting protein and carbs in before lifting is a must, even if it happens to be first thing in the morning. Oatmeal takes seconds to prepare so it’s ideal for when you’re trying to get out the door. The protein will also digest faster, ensuring it hits your bloodstream by the time you perform your first rep.

Sweet Potatoes With Chicken

An evening weightlifting session means you can eat a hearty dinner that will nourish your body maximally before exercise. Chicken with sweet potatoes gives you that one-two punch of long lasting carbs with high quality protein to energize you for the entire session.

Egg White Pita

Another great morning go-to, an egg white pita is going to provide you with both the protein and carbs you need without the fat. Of all the solid food sources of protein, egg whites digest the fastest, so they’re a great go-to for morning workouts.

Choose a whole wheat or white pita here. Having some faster acting carbs hitting your muscles can actually be beneficial at this time.

Fruit Smoothie

The last thing you want in your stomach before a morning HIIT session is solid food. That said, you can’t go without eating. Your body demands glucose at this point, which is why a fruit smoothie fits the bill perfectly.

The fruit also offers a good dose of fructose, meaning you will get less of a blood sugar spike than from more starchy types of carbs. This means you position yourself for ideal fat burning.

Combine fresh or frozen fruit with some protein powder, ice, and a little skim or unsweetened almond milk.

Apple With Cheese

When an afternoon cardio session is lurking, grab an apple and a slice of cheese to give you fast energy on the go. The cheese will provide a bit of added protein while the dietary fat will help to slow the release of those carbs. It’s the perfect combo.

Trail Mix

When heading out for a lengthy workout — such as a three-hour afternoon hike — you’ll want a fuel source that’s dense and easy to carry so that you can munch on it as you go. That makes homemade trail mix a perfect go-to. Mix together some nuts, whole wheat cereal squares, dark chocolate pieces, and dried fruit. It’ll give you a great blend of protein, fiber, fat, and carbs.

Vegetable Omelet

If you’re planning a morning cardio workout and aren’t looking to do it on an empty stomach, a veggie omelet is a great choice. The eggs will hit your muscle tissues quickly and prevent catabolism while the low carb nature of this meal will keep you burning fat for hours to come.

Cottage Cheese With Berries

Cottage cheese is an excellent source of slow digesting protein that will provide the steady stream of amino acids your muscles need for an afternoon cardio workout. Add in a few berries that will provide just enough carbs for energy and you’re set with this light snack.

Chocolate Milk

If the last time you had chocolate milk was as a kid, it might be time to rethink this delicious beverage. It can be the perfect option before a morning lifting session if a protein shake isn’t something that appeals to you.

Chocolate milk provides a good dose of protein along with some simple fast-acting carbs that will give you the energy you need in a hurry.

Lean Beef With Baked Potato

If an afternoon weightlifting session is ahead of you, consider serving up a heavier meal at lunch. It’ll take a few hours to digest before you hit the gym and will ensure you have energy to spare. Some lean beef served with a baked potato is a great option. The beef is rich in zinc and iron, two essential minerals for keeping your strength and energy levels up.

Tuna On Whole Grain Crackers

Tuna is another fast and easy lean protein source that you can add to your training day. Pairing tuna with some whole wheat crackers is an ideal choice before an afternoon weight training or HIIT session. The perfect blend of carbs and protein will keep your body working hard and ready for whatever that session brings.

Cereal And Milk

Another relatively light morning meal before you head out to lift is cereal with some skim milk. It combines protein and carbs in a 250-300 calorie bowl, which is just enough fuel to get that session in without experiencing stomach cramping. Just be sure to aim for a cereal variety that has no more than 5 grams of fiber per serving at this time. While at most times more fiber is a good thing, before exercise too much fiber could cause issues.

Black Bean Soup

An intense afternoon cardio session demands fuel from your body in the form of carbohydrates. Black bean soup will get the job done with slow-burning carbs that also add in a hearty dose of protein as well.

Spaghetti With Turkey Meatballs

Endurance cardio or a heavy weightlifting session is going to rely heavily on muscle glycogen as fuel, so you need to be sure you’re stocked up. A plate of spaghetti with some turkey meatballs is a perfect option. Swapping out regular ground beef for turkey will keep the fat content down, ensuring you don’t feel weighed down during the workout ahead.

Coffee With Protein Powder

If you need an extra boost to help get that cardio in at 6 A.M., combining a scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein with a cup of strong coffee will be the perfect solution. The caffeine will help increase energy and alertness while also enhancing total body fat burning.